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	Social security law Social security means welfare benefits and allowances, tax credits, state pensions and pension credit, and other payments like social fund payments, discretionary housing payments, and child trust funds. Although most social security payments are aimed at the most vulnerable, social security law can be extremely complex. We aim to provide clear advice and excellent representation in relation to those social security problems where the services of a lawyer are required. We have experience of providing representation at all levels: in statutory appeals to the First-Tier Tribunal (formerly the Social Security Appeals Tribunal) and Upper Tribunal (formerly the Social Security Commissioners); in judicial reviews before the Upper Tribunal and the High Court; and, in appeals to the Court of Appeal, House of Lords, and the European Court of Human Rights. We have special expertise in dealing with the complex rules that govern entitlement to benefits for those who have come to the UK from abroad. and we deliver training. Since a number of new countries, mainly from Eastern Europe, joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007, we have become expert in advising claimants about their eligibility for social security benefits in this area. Our social security supervisor is Stephen Pierce, who sits as a part-time Tribunal Judge hearing social security cases and who has written extensively on social security law. In 2008 we recruited Sasha Rozansky, formerly a welfare benefits specialist at the Mary Legal Ward Centre, who now conducts most of our social security cases; although more complex cases, including judicial reviews and cases in the Court of Appeal, House of Lords and European Court of Human Rights are referred to solicitors in our public law, discrimination and human rights team as appropriate. Frequently, we are instructed to take over social security appeals when they reach the Court of Appeal. If you would like us to consider doing this please speak to Stephen Pierce in the first instance. What kinds of decisions can we help to challenge? Here are some examples: cases where social security payments are refused because of the immigration status of the applicant or a member of their household; challenges to benefit rules which discriminate, for example on the grounds of age, gender, nationality, or some other status; cases where human rights or EU law issues are raised; refusals of Disability Living Allowance where it is decided that the qualifying conditions are not met; termination of Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, or Income Support where it is decided that the claimant is fit for work; decisions that benefit has been overpaid; decisions to refuse claims for backdating of benefits; disputes about eligibility for benefits for people from outside the UK; refusals of applications for loans and grants; delays in payment or assessment, including cases where urgent judicial review claims are necessary to secure interim payments.		Areas of law Public Law, discrimination and human rights Social welfare law Housing   Community care   Social security